• @WhatAmLemmy
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    302 months ago

    has also been working on an implant that would be able to euthanize Alzheimer patients unable to make their own care decisions, and told us the first one has been built. It will only be loaded with saline to test the timing technology used in the implant, we’re told.

    Fuck yeah. Family members, nor the state, can be trusted to execute a demented persons wishes — wishes they were made while still of sound mind. I was already planning on building a suicide machine if I’m ever diagnosed (customised gas mask + nitrous oxide or nitrogen tank probably). Having autonomous, simple, well tested, painless options would prevent me having to waste my time on that.

    • 𝕽𝖚𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍
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      162 months ago

      This thing is exactly my exit strategy. My living will gives my wife absolute authority to decide to terminate my life if she sees fit; whether or not the state would allow it is another matter, but at least my wishes are known. These include conditions of cognitive decline; my step-father recently passed after a protracted decade of horrific decline, and no fucking way all I going through that.

      While you’ve got a more pragmatic solution, to be frank, if I’m going I’d like to do so with some guarantees and comfort. I’m not comfortable with the risk of accidentally half-assing the attempt with something I jury-rigged and end up with brain damage and the inability to complete the job. I’m hoping that some state will have the balls to jump into suicide tourism and open clinics full of these specific devices, so if things get bad and I’m still able to travel, I can go in some comfort.

      I’m fucked if I’m comatose, because most options are simply removing support and letting the patient starve to death, and I fear being conscious (enough) through that protracted process.

      We have such shit laws in this country (USA) about giving people autonomy over their end-of-life process.